Annie's Second Birthday Party

Last weekend we celebrated Annie's second birthday with a little Saturday morning brunch .

It was such a fun day & was made so special by the family & friends who were able to be there , though there were definitely many who were missed !

This party was basically one giant DIY project & I had such fun putting it together !

Check it out !

*sources & other info at the bottom of the page 

I made this wreath out of coffee filters! I followed this tutorial from the blog Lolly Jane.

The burlap and doily bunting was another DIY courtesy of Lolly Jane, here.

These flowers were also made from coffee filters. I sort of modified this tutorial, here . Obviously I did not dye mine - I used regular coffee filters for the white & organic coffee filters for the brown.

As favors, we gave out these recipe cards that I designed with an attached cookie cutter so you can cut your French toast into fun shapes!

And here are some pics of the B-Day Girl!

Here are some fun facts from Miss Annie now that she's TWO :

My nicknames are : Annie-Bananie, Annie B, & Ann-Bannan .

 My favorite foods are : turkey, pickles, cheese, tomatoes, berries, grapes, juice, yogurt, "mac-y" & "chicken nugs". I also like fruit snacks, chocolate chip Fiber One Bars,

M&Ms, & suckers as special treats .

My favorite shows are : Barney, Little Einsteins, Calliou, Super Why, Doodlebops, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Scout & Friends, & The "Neigh Neigh" Videos .

My favorite songs to sing & dance to are : Twinkle Twinkle Little Star,  If You're Happy & You Know It, Hokey Pokey, Wheels on the Bus, Itsy Bitsy Spider, Popcorn Popping , Do As I'm Doing, Teddy Bear Teddy Bear, You Are My Sunshine, The Lion Sleeps Tonight, ABCs, Raindrops, & Five Little Monkeys .

My favorite books are : Twinkle Twinkle Little Star & Other Nursery Rhymes , Clifford Books, Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, Goodnight Moon, Bunny's Noisy Book, The Potty Book, Petunia, & The Annie Book . 

I've learned so much : I know all the letters of the alphabet & some of their sounds , I can count to 15, I know my colors, animals & their sounds , & I love to read books to myself . I can also put on my own shoes & buckle my car seat .

I can spell my first name & I know that my full name is

Annie Lynn Romney.

I love : trains, driving, painting, coloring, reading, chalk, cooking in my kitchen, swimming, dollies & babies,  animals - especially bunnies & doggies, bath time, dancing, holding hands, my grandparents & aunts & uncles & cousins - immediate & beyond , going to the park - the slides & swings are my favorite, kissing owies, playing on the dinosaurs with "KK", pillows & blankies, & bubbles . 

I am a little addicted to the iPad.

I call it the "IP".

I still suck my thumb .

Everyone says I look just like my daddy, but I look just like my mommy's baby pictures too .

I am an observer, memorizer, thinker, & solver.

I am very sensitive & tentative.

I love to tell stories & I think I'm very silly .

That all seems like so much and yet I know there is more!

We love you our little Annie Lynn - everything that you are

and everything that you will be .

- e  

Some other sources & FIYs :

- The "A" & "2" are both from Hobby Lobby .

- All burlap (I just purchased a yard or two) & twine used for bunting, wrapping the cupcake stand, wrapping the silverware, & for topping the mason jars were also from Hobby Lobby .

- The hearts used on the cake topper & cinnamon buns were created with glitter scrapbook paper, mini wood skewers, & hot glue - all from Hobby Lobby . I created a heart template to make hearts.

- The flags used on the quiche were made from a strip of glitter washi tape from Hobby Lobby and were wrapped around mini wood skewers, then cut on the ends .

- Organic coffee filters were purchased from Target (I had a hard time finding these!).

- Regular coffee filters were purchased from Walmart, although they also have them at the dollar store.

- The cupcake (or in this case quiche) stand, mason jars, & all doilies were purchased at Walmart .

- Straws were purchased from Pioneer Party in Lehi .

- The crate was leftover from another project & was bought at Michaels . I painted it white .

- The invitations (adding that picture soon!), labels, & recipe cards were created by me .

- Annie's dress is from Carter's (a gift from her Aunt Brittani!!)

A Mustache Bash

Over the weekend I hosted a baby shower for a sweet friend of mine who is expecting her first little one, a baby boy, in just a few weeks !

I had such fun planning this shower and am so grateful to everyone who contributed to making it such an amazing day for Becks and her little guy .

Here are a few photos of our Mustache Bash for Baby Kenneth !

*Most of these photos were taken before we finished up , and don't include our super cute front door banner or the area where the food was set up ! My husband very kindly took the photos for me while I was making last minute adjustments and while I am so grateful, some are just not my favorite .

Love you BW .

Also , please excuse my naked windows above the table - working on pelmet boxes for those : )

*sources & more info at the bottom of the page

A blown up version of part of the invite.



My first attempt at doing something fun on a chalkboard. First of all , I HATE touching chalk . HATE IT . But , I love the look of chalkboard signs !
The top part took me so long that I just wrote in the second line .

But , I'll definitely be practicing more !



This picture kind of kills me - the angle , the unfinished table , the highchair to the left and cutoff window on the right , but hey , you get the idea .

Two of Becky's sweet sisters who helped with the food and games - SO grateful for their help !



Me with the lady ( and gent ) of the hour !

My sweet girl helping mama prep !



This theme has been pretty trendy lately , but I just love it !

What's a party theme that you're loving right now ?

- e

Other sources & FIYs :

- The printable of the invitations, food labels, & water bottle labels were designed by me.

- Striped Straws & "It's A Boy" lollipops are from Pioneer Party in Lehi.

- Banners, letters, mustaches were made using a Cricut which I borrowed (have to get me one of those!).

- Mustache sticks were made with the Cricut mustaches & bamboo skewers - just hot glue!

- The chevron runner on the table is fabric from Hobby Lobby wrapped around a piece of corkboard.

- Tissue poms were premade from Hobby Lobby (didn't have time to attempt that DIY haha).

- Onesies were monogrammed by one of Becky's oldest friends!



Thanksgiving Table Inspiration

How cute is this Thankful Tree ? Perfect for an entry table or centerpiece .

Via .

This year is the first year that I am really yearning to start having holidays at my own home .

This is probably magnified by the fact that I have only been in my own home for two weeks out of the last three months .

Blake and I have decided that this will be the last year that we will travel for the holidays .

I absolutely love the traditions that I grew up with , but I am so excited at the thought of decorating my house during the fall and winter months , preparing a truly grand meal , and snuggling up with Blake and Annie in our own bed on some of the most special nights of the year .

Although I won't be hosting Thanksgiving this year , I wanted to take the opportunity to share some of my favorite table settings with all of you .

I just love the look of a light , clean , and simple table - so elegant !

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- e

One Year

My baby is one year old .

And in just one year , she has brought me a lifetime of joy .

I think about the day that she arrived , two weeks past her due date , after 26 hours of labor .

With Blake by my side we welcomed this beautiful baby girl , in a slightly more dramatic fashion than we had originally planned , and we were nervous that it was a sign of things to come .

But Annie is one of those babies that you hear about . . .the ones that you doubt exist .

The baby that is flexible .The baby that doesn't fuss .

The baby that is always happy . That smiles all the time .

The baby that makes it way to easy on you your first time around and fools you into thinking that you really have this parenting thing down .

I think of all the big moments .

Her birth . Her blessing . Meeting her friends and family .

Her first Halloween and Christmas .

Her first trip to the ER .

The first time she crawled .

The first time she went swimming .

When she said " hi " to her Daddy .

The first time she said " Mama ".

And I think of all the smaller moments .

Snuggling with me in the mornings .

Listening to her laugh as her Daddy tosses her around on the bed .

Teaching her to give kisses , hugs , and to find her nose .

Watching her suck her thumb as she sleeps .

Laughing as she " tries on " her clothes , sticks out her little tounge , and bobs her not-so-little head .

Watching her pure joy while she rides a carousel .

Seeing her squeal with delight when she sees a doggie .

Reading books with her and letting her flip the pages .

Every moment that I spend with Annie and Blake are the best of my life .

They make me better .

And it's only the beginning .

Here are some photos from her big day :

( out on the boat ! )

( so excited for her party to start ! )

( look at all her gifts ! what a lucky girl ! )

( the whole spread . a big thank you to my parents for hosting at their lakehouse )

( her sweet cake came from Society Bakery in Dallas )

( Ooooo . . . I want that ! )

( are you sure I'm allowed to eat this ? )

( Oh yeah , that's what I'm talkin' about ! )

I love you , my baby girl .

- e